ERIC Number: EJ1419516
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1471-3802
Available Date: N/A
Evaluation of a Pilot Physical Activity Intervention for Children with ADHD Symptoms and Reading Difficulties
Josephine N. Booth; Iain A. Mitchell; Philip D. Tomporowski; Bryan A. McCullick; James M. E. Boyle; John J. Reilly
Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, v24 n2 p254-268 2024
Physical activity (PA) benefits children's cognition, in particular executive functions (EF). Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Reading Difficulties (RD) and co-occurring ADHD/RD have low levels of PA and difficulties with EF. This study evaluated a PA programme to determine recruitment, attrition, feasibility (e.g. in-school or after-school hours), intensity of PA during the programme and effect sizes. Outcomes evaluated were EF, academic attainment and social and emotional behaviour. Sixty-nine children (35 males) aged 7-13 years participated in a delayed control design. The sample comprised 15 children with RD, 15 with high levels of ADHD symptoms, 15 with co-occurring RD and ADHD symptoms and 24 typically developing children. Thirty-one of the participants took part in a 12 week PA intervention designed to enhance cognition and 38 acted as a control group. The control group subsequently received the intervention and data was combined for analysis. The study was successful in recruiting participants for the intervention; more success was observed for in-school than after-school hours. Participants spent 46% (SD = 14) of the intervention in Moderate-to-Vigorous intensity PA (MVPA). A significant effect of time-point (pre- vs. post-intervention) was found for inhibition and visuospatial working memory ([eta][superscript 2] = 0.11 and 0.18 respectively). There was no interaction with symptomatology though; all groups had higher scores on EF tasks after the intervention. It is possible to recruit and retain participants with ADHD symptoms and reading difficulties to a school-based PA programme and adherence to measurements was good. Taking part in the programme may improve inhibition and visuospatial working memory and reduce symptomatology suggesting this is a potential source of remediation which should be explored.
Descriptors: Intervention, Physical Activities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Comparative Analysis, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Educational Benefits, Reading Difficulties, Pilot Projects, Executive Function, Social Emotional Learning, Comorbidity, Program Evaluation, Visual Perception, Spatial Ability, Short Term Memory
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A